Latest news with #RO
Observer
2 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Foundation stone laid for RO 80 million tourism complex in Salalah
SALALAH: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism celebrated on Monday the laying of the foundation stone for an integrated tourism complex in the Junuf area of Salalah, with an estimated investment of RO 80 million, as part of efforts to develop tourism infrastructure in the Dhofar Governorate. The project is considered a landmark tourism venture due to its prime location and comprehensive facilities in tourism and hospitality. It is being implemented in partnership with Al-Wathba Hospitality Company under a usufruct agreement signed in February 2025. The first phase of the project, scheduled for completion within 30 months, includes the construction of a five-star hotel with 124 guest units, a fully equipped marina with restaurants and cafes, a beach club, a health club, and a main entrance gate for the complex. Azzan Qasim al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, emphasized the project's importance in supporting small and medium enterprises, generating direct and indirect job opportunities, enhancing local content, and providing training and qualification programs for Omani citizens in tourism and hospitality. He added that the project represents a qualitative addition to efforts aimed at developing tourist destinations in the Sultanate of Oman, particularly in Dhofar, which boasts rich natural and environmental diversity. He noted that such projects reflect the government's commitment to economic diversification through investment in the tourism sector. On his turn, Khalid Abdullah al Abri, Director General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, stated in his speech that the new tourism project is among the most prominent in the governorate in terms of investment volume and diversity of components. He explained that the first phase will include a five-star hotel and a yacht marina, one of the largest in Oman, along with a fully integrated beachfront, contributing to the enhancement of the governorate's tourism infrastructure. He highlighted the efforts made by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in recent years to promote Dhofar as a tourist destination by opening new tourism markets and direct flight routes, which contributed to a 9% increase in visitor numbers during the 2024 Khareef (monsoon) season and an 18% rise in the winter season compared to the previous year. The ceremony featured a promotional video showcasing Dhofar Governorate and another presenting the project's components, followed by the laying of the foundation stone by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism. The project represents a significant addition to Oman's tourism sector, offering integrated facilities, promising investment opportunities, and strengthening public-private partnerships, all of which contribute to boosting tourism activity in Dhofar Governorate. — ONA
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Beyond the blackboard: Assam teachers turn mentors to help students tide over anxiety, disorders
Guwahati, For Keya, Shristi and Mofida – students of different Kendriya Vidyalayas of Assam – grappling with challenges in the form of hyperactiveness, social anxiety, fear of certain subjects and lack of self-confidence had become a routine affair. Beyond the blackboard: Assam teachers turn mentors to help students tide over anxiety, disorders Help finally arrived in the form of their very own school teachers, who donned the role of a mentor to guide not only Keya, Shristi and Mofida, but thousands like them, to tide over academic problems, performance anxiety, behavioural difficulties and even issues at home. They are among more than 2,000 students of the state who benefited from an innovative programme, 'Each One Reach One', which has now completed a year now. "The teachers give their cent per cent in the classroom. But, not all students can move with the pace of the teachers and some need help. Not just academic help, but also guidance to tide through their emotional problems, peer pressure and parental issues," Chandrashekhar Azad, Deputy Commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Guwahati regional office , said. "This initiative is to lend a helping hand to the students in need of some special attention, be it in their academics, behavioural issues or even problems at home that are impacting their mental wellbeing," he said. The idea to launch the programme germinated when Azad was interacting with students appearing for their board exams last year. "I asked them to write down what is it that they feared the most, especially with an important exam coming. I assured them it would be kept anonymous. And the candid jottings were revealing," Azad told PTI. It was not just the usual desire to score more marks, but these young minds were facing anxieties about their future, pressure from peers and parents, difficulties with certain subjects and troubles at home, he said. When Azad announced the 'Each One Reach One' initiative for the session 2024-25, teachers came out voluntarily to 'adopt' such students for the entire session. "There was no instruction on whom to 'adopt'. The teachers identified their wards themselves. And not just the teachers, principals, vice-principals, headmasters and even the two assistant commissioners of the RO 'adopted' students," the DC said. As many as 2,260 students in 42 KVs under the Guwahati RO were adopted by 1,450 teachers in the first session, with the mentorship continuing for the same student in some cases for the second year now. Out of these, 183 Class-10 students were mentored, achieving a 99.5 per cent pass rate, and 285 Class-12 students were supported, recording a 98.6 per cent success rate, he said. The mentors also identified key learning and developmental gaps, like 29.4 per cent struggled with literacy skills, 21.7 per cent had issues in STEM subjects, 12.6 per cent faced attention and focus difficulties, while 9.1 per cent showed emotional and behavioural concerns. Sharing stories of some of the successful mentorships, he cited the instance of Keya, a 'Balvatika-3' student of PM Shri KV, AFS Jorhat. A hypersensitive child, Keya had difficulty even sitting still when she joined school. "Managing her boundless energy was a challenge, which was successfully done by her mentor as Keya began participating in activities and even started writing beautifully, with the 'written work' initially the biggest challenge for her," Azad said. A Class-10 student of one of the KVs in Guwahati, Shristi was struggling with Maths and Science while also grappling with problems at home, negatively affecting her performance at school. "The help she received from her mentor was not limited to guidance on the subjects alone. He reached out to her parents and together with them, they helped Shristi overcome the anxieties and it resulted in her performing well in these subjects and also coming out of her cocoon," Azad said. For Mofida of KV, IIT Guwahati, performance anxiety, social anxiety and disconnect, lack of self-confidence and sleeping and eating disorders were taking a toll as she was preparing to complete schooling. She was introduced to mindfulness and time management techniques, proper nutritional and sleep plans along with parental counselling, as Mofida emerged a confident young girl at the end of the session. Azad said the 'Each One Reach One' initiative, inspired by the National Education Policy 2020, has grabbed attention nationwide, with many KVs now moving ahead to replicate it in their own regions. "Some of the ROs have already started it… on a pilot basis. It is inspiring that a noble approach we launched has proved to be beneficial for our students," he added. The names of the students have been changed. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
RO/ARO exam held peacefully, 60% skip test
1 2 Lucknow: The examination for the posts of review officer/assistant review officer (RO/ARO) was conducted smoothly and peacefully at 2,382 centres across the state on Sunday. According to officials, nearly 60% candidates skipped the examination as around 4.5 lakh students took the test out of total 10.7 lakh who had registered for the examination. UPPSC secretary Ashok Kumar said that Ayodhya recorded highest attendance with 52.8% candidates appearing for the examination, while Rampur registered the lowest at 25.8%. Participation in other major cities included 47.6% in Prayagraj, 48.9% in Lucknow, 44.4% in Kanpur, and 49.2% in Varanasi. "The highest number of 139 examination centres were set up in Kanpur, followed by Lucknow (129) and Prayagraj (106)," he said. "Cutting-edge security measures — including AI-based alert system, biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, and monitoring by the STF— ensured zero irregularities across the state. Dedicated teams monitored coaching centres and flagged suspicious behaviour to the authorities," an official said. "A special social media monitoring cell also kept a close watch on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to curb the spread of rumours or leaks," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Timeless & Modern: Unveiling a 96-Year-Old's Vision! Read More Undo Armed security and senior officials oversaw every step, from retrieval of papers from the treasury to the submission of answer sheets. To ensure secure identification at the entry point, biometric authentication and facial recognition technology were deployed. A complete ban was enforced on electronic devices, while an AI-powered alert system monitored for any suspicious activity and triggered instant warnings. The candidate identification and admission process for the RO/ARO exam was made entirely digital and foolproof. Centre allocation was carried out through computer-based randomisation to eliminate any scope for bias. The e-admit card was integrated with a One Time Registration (OTR) system, which involved an eight-point verification process, including details such as candidate's name, father's name, date of birth, category, high school roll number, and year of passing. Candidates Neeraj Chandra and Sachin Mathur from Varanasi, who appeared for the exam at a centre in Prayagraj, and Pooja from Pratapgarh said that the multi-layered screening and security checks were systematic and the entire process was smooth and transparent.
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Salalah to host Oman's next iconic coastal destination
SALALAH, JULY 27 Construction has officially commenced on a major new tourism project along Dhofar's southern coast, with the first phase of development valued at RO 25 million and total investments expected to exceed RO 130 million, according to site observations and project documentation. The project, titled 'Boutique Hotel Salalah and Marina,' is being spearheaded by Al Wathba Hospitality, and is set to transform over 2.5 million square metres of coastal land into a premium tourism and leisure destination. A prominent signboard at the project site—visited this week by Oman Observer—confirms that construction activities are underway, with early works and land preparation already visible. The development will include a luxury beachfront hotel, an integrated marina, and supporting tourism infrastructure designed to enhance Salalah's year-round appeal. Design and engineering responsibilities are being handled by leading international firms. The architectural vision is led by Benoy and Opini, while the main engineering consultancy is Tusker, a firm known for infrastructure and environmental planning. Execution of marine works has been assigned to MDC Dredging & Marine, in partnership with Al Fairuz, according to details on-site. The location, situated west of central Salalah, is part of a broader national push to develop high-impact tourism assets in Dhofar, in line with Oman Vision 2040. The strategy aims to expand the tourism sector's contribution to GDP and promote the region as a key gateway for sustainable economic diversification. Initial visuals on the project board suggest a design that integrates natural landscapes, palm-lined promenades, and luxury coastal amenities, preserving the environmental character of the surrounding area. The inclusion of solar-powered site lighting reflects an emphasis on modern and eco-conscious development. Industry observers note that this development could play a significant role in diversifying Dhofar's tourism economy beyond the seasonal Khareef influx, offering a high-end option for both regional and international travellers.
Observer
3 days ago
- General
- Observer
Dar Al Atta'a leads in helping people with smart, sustainable ideas
MUSCAT: Founded in 2002 and officially recognised in 2006, Dar Al Atta'a remains a cornerstone of charitable and humanitarian work in the Sultanate of Oman. Under the stewardship of founder and chairperson Maryam bint Issa al Zadjaliyah, the organisation has expanded its programmes to touch every governorate, offering targeted assistance through education, housing, disaster relief and empowerment initiatives. In 2024 alone, the association spent over RO 4.09 million on various programmes. During the first half of 2025, it has already disbursed around RO 2.038 million, reflecting its ongoing commitment to aiding vulnerable families and fostering stability. Al Zadjali noted that Dar Al Atta'a has recently launched a Department of Social Innovation to integrate modern technology into its programmes — streamlining services and enabling a qualitative leap in service delivery. This pioneering move aims to improve internal efficiency and expand outreach to underserved populations. Among the association's standout projects is the second phase of the Al Atta'a Neighbourhood in the Wilayat of Al Khabourah, featuring 36 model homes equipped with solar energy and water purification systems, alongside a mosque and community centre. The eco-friendly neighbourhood will serve as a model for sustainable community housing. So far, the organisation has delivered 175 fully built homes and maintained over 2,514 units across the Sultanate of Oman. These efforts have been instrumental in elevating the quality of life for many, demonstrating how grassroots efforts can drive national progress. As Dar Al Atta'a continues to scale its impact, it remains firmly aligned with Oman's broader objectives of achieving sustainable development, strengthening public-private partnerships and reinforcing the charitable sector as a vital component of national resilience. — ONA
